Merton J. Hershberger's Page

Here is a testimony and request for prayer from an expat believer in Qatar. Let's pray for Qatar this week, that the Lord will tear down the spiritual walls that keep the Qatari people from knowing Jesus! The Walls SpeakAs we drive through Qatar, tall walls are seen encompassing residential housing buildings often far away from the city. These tall walls remind us of the huge fortresses that used to protect these cities in the ancient past. The Arab Gulf is famous for many such fortresses that…See More

As many of you know from the news, a lot is happening in the AP these days.  Tensions between the US and Iran are rising due to oil tankers being attacked in the Gulf of Oman.  Drones are being shot down.  The US will be sending 1500 more troops to the Middle East.  Air travel is being diverted away from the Strait of Hormuz.  The Houthis in Yemen are firing missiles into Saudi Arabia, particularly Abha airport in the southern part of Saudi close to Yemen.  The Houthis have fired missiles into…See More

Most teaching positions in schools across the Arabian Peninsula are filled with expats from all over the world.  As head counts are being considered and new hires are being made for the 2019-2020 school year, pray that God would bring in a wave of believers to work as teachers and administrators of schools in the Arabian Peninsula.  Pray that the Father would use this sphere of influence to have profound Kingdom impact in this region.See More

Laylat al-Qadr (commonly known as the Night of Power, Night of Decree, Night of Value, Night of Measures, or Night of Destiny) is considered the holiest night of the year for Muslims and is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. This day commemorates the day when the Qur'an was revealed to Mohammed.This is a day when many Muslims believe that God's abundant blessings are mercy are more accessible on this night. Pray that as they celebrate this night, Jesus, the founder and…See More

Pray for a college student, N. After openly hearing the gospel from his professor, he sent the professor a video of Islamic arguments doubting the historical death of Christ. The professor answered all 30 of the points made. Today, N told the professor that he was so glad to have a knowledgeable person telling him about Christianity in a way he had not heard previously. Pray for his salvation, especially during this month of Ramadan. Pray that as our friends read the Qur'an over Ramadan, they…See More

Significantly spiritual dreams and visions are not uncommon for Muslims to have during Ramadan. Pray that the Father would pour Himself out to our friends through the supernatural as they participate in Ramadan. Pray for believers in the Arabian Gulf to be open to the Spirit's leading as they interact and engage with locals.  At sunset, there is a meal called Iftar that signifies the breaking of the fast.  After sunset prayers, another meal called Suhoor occurs.  During Ramadan, these meals are…See More

Prayer Requests - April 15, 2019Pray for many to gain access to the Word. Pray they will be irresistibly drawn to read and their eyes and ears will be open to the truth and the Father's love. Ask for someone to come alongside them who can help explain the way to salvation and answer their questions.Women in prisons are coming to believe in the Lord. Pray for continued opportunities for provision of clothes, toiletries, and copies of the Word. Ask for a spiritual breakthrough among these women.…See More

Alex and Adam study in the same university, and they have both become believers in Jesus in recent years. Their meeting one another could be a source of great encouragement in the midst of an overwhelmingly Muslim culture. Please pray that God would have His way in bringing them and other muslim background believers.Also, as we continue praying for the Bedouin people of the Middle East, take a look at the following videos to help you pray for them.PRAY FOR KUWAITI BEDOUIN:…See More

In partnership with workers throughout the Middle East, we are distributing this 40 day prayer guide for the Bedouin people of the Middle East.  The guide focuses mainly on the Bedouins in Egypt and the Levantine countries (Jordan, Syria, etc).  However, we can also pray for the Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula since most of the prayer requests are the same.  Besides, the original Bedouin Arab people are from the Arabian Peninsula who traveled to other countries like Egypt.  You can download…See More

Pope Francis will be visiting the UAE from February 3 to 5, 2019. This is the pope's first visit to the Arabian Peninsula. The Pope's visit coincides with the visit of the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr Ahmad Al Tayeb, where the two prominent religious figures will hold a historic meeting to launch a global humanitarian message to consolidate the values of tolerance and brotherhood, coexistence and rejection of extremism. An estimated 135,000 Catholics from the UAE and abroad are expected to attend…See More

For Muslims in the region most of the very basics of Christianity are a struggle to accept and contrary to their view of God. To think of God as Father is really difficult. The concept of the Trinity is a big obstacle as well. It is believed God does not share his deity with another, so it is hard for them to accept Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Another difficulty is the sacrifice Christ made on the cross. It is believed that if Christ was God, then he would never have had to die on a cross set…See More

During the Christmas season, many believers throughout the Arabian Peninsula host parties, gatherings, and events to share the true meaning of Christ's birth to their Muslim friends. It is also a time when many Muslims have opportunity to ask questions about Jesus if they are seeking and encounter the Christmas story on social media. Let's pray for boldness, discernment, and wisdom as believers invite their Muslim friends to celebrate Christmas together and share the Christmas account. Let's…See More

Bahrain National Day - December 161. Praise God for a handful of new contacts in recent months, local believers and those who are interested in reading the Bible. Also, praise God for increased and extended prayer for Bahrain which has brought about new interest in knowing more about Jesus.2. There is a causeway between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia where Saudis can drive to Bahrain which they do on weekends. Pray that many Saudis will hear the gospel in Bahrain where there is more freedom to do…See More

Dave learned that his national friend, Adam, had become a believer about two years ago. Adam was disillusioned with Islam while still a teenager and started investigating religions. He found Jesus and the Bible to be historically valid, unlike the others. Dave heard him tell of faith in Jesus alone for salvation, and of several others in his prominent bedouin tribe who had also believed in Jesus. Pray for their growth both individually, and that their faith would spread to others.See More